Means for storing and dispensing sheet fabric.



PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

J.B.HART.I MEANS FOR STORINGAND DISPENSING SHEET FABRIC.

7 APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27, 1905.

3-SHBETSSHEBT 1.

No. 845,950. PATENTE-D MAR. 5, 1907." I

, J. E. HART. MEANS FOR STORING AND DISPENSING SHEET FABRIC.

' APPLI GATION FILED NOV. 27, 1965.

L llll ll s SHEETS-SHEET 2,

No. 845,950. PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

v J. E. HART.

MEANS FOR STORING AND'DISPENSIN-G SHEET FABRIC.

' APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 27, 1905. 2 SHEETS-SHEET a.

I l m I i= v v v 1 Wd rawyai- .ZYwwLZ OI? JAMES ELLIOTT HART, OF EDGEFIELD, SOUTH CAROLINA.

MEANS FOR STORING AND DISPENSING SHEET FABRIC.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed November 27,1905. Serial No. 289,319.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES ELLIOTT HART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgefield, county of Edgefield, South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Storing and Dispensing Sheet Fabric; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means whereby sheet fabrics may be conveniently stored and dispensed.

1n fabrics which are delivered from the manufacturer to the retailer in large and heavy rollssuch, for instance, as oil-cloth, carpet, matting, and papers of all kinds the operation of exhibiting the goods, as well as the measuring of required lengths, is attended with great inconvenience and fatigue on the part of the salesman.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a means whereby goods of the character described may be compactly stored and the handling of the goods for measuring, exhibiting, or other purposes is greatly facilitated.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a top plan view with the cover removed. Fig. 3 is a horizontal central section, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a support A, on which is pivotally mounted the base ofthe casing B. Within the casing are mounted a plurality of spindles 0, upon which rolls of sheet fabric F may be mounted. Upon the outside of the casing is mounted a plurality of guides or frames E for displaying the fabric and which also serves for directing a cutting device for severing the fabrics as they issue from the casing. A means is also provided for supporting a measure D in suitable relation to the fabric as it issues from the casing.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the easing has a base 1, sides 2, hinged covers 3, and the side door 17. In the sides 2 of the casing are provided slots 4, there being a slot corresponding to each spindle and parallel thereto.

It is to be noted that the spindles are vertical, and this is of great advantage in connection with oil-cloth or other sticky fabrics the layers of which are liable to stick together when the rolls are disposed in a horizontal position. The lower end of each of the spindles is received in a socket 5 in the base 1 of the casing, while the upper end enters within a hole 6 in a support 7, which is hinged in any suitable manner to the casing and may be secured in supporting position by a latch 16. The upper end of the spindle is thus secured in proper position and that portion of it which extends beyond the support 7 is squared or otherwise adapted to be engaged by a key for turning the spindle to wind up the fabric or for other purposes. Near the lower end of the spindle a suitablysized shoulder 8 is formed upon which the lower end of the roll of fabric rests.

Upon the outside of the casing and adjacent to each slot a bar 9 is rotatably mount ecl. To this bar at a distance therefrom are secured two rods 10 and 11, which are parallel to each other and to the slotand are lo cated at such a distance from each other that a suitable cutting device may pass between them and be guided thereby to sever any desired length of fabric after it has been drawn from a roll within the casing. It is preferred, however, to sever the fabric by drawing the knife along the outside edge of the outer rod 11. The end of the fabric will thus be left between the rods and in proper position for displaying without the necessity of rethread ing the end between the rods 10 and 11 after cutting. The rod 10 is preferably of square section, as it has been found that when of this form it is peculiarly efficient in guiding the cutting device. Upon the rod 11 is secured a hook 12, and upon the bar 9 is secured an eye 13, the said hook and eye cooperating to support the measure D in a position parallel to the edge of the fabric as it issues from the slot. All the bars 9 upon one side of the casing are held in position by means of a bolt 14, which is held in place by staples 15, from which it may be withdrawn, when the bars 9 may be removed, as it is desirable to do for shipping.

The manner of use will now be set forth.

A roll F having been received, a spindle C is inserted within the same, the spindle being made slightly smaller than the support on which the roll was originally wound. The

, gether.

spindle fits the roll, however, sufliciently close, so that in the unwinding they turn to- The roll and spindle having been assembled as described, they are inserted within the casing through the opening made by the door 17, and the lower end of the spindle is entered in one of the sockets 5. The upper end of the spindle is entered within the hole 6 of the support 7 directly above the socket, into which the lower end of the spindle has been entered. The support 7 is then moved downwardly and secured in position by its latch 16. The roll having been mounted within the casing as described, the edge of the fabric is threaded through one of the slots 4 and between the rods 10 and 11, as best shown in Fig. 3. Other rolls are similarly assembled with their spindles and mounted in the casing. It will now be observed that the unrolled portion of the fabric will have its outer edge supported by the rods 10 and 11 and that these rods, together with the side of the slot in the casing through which the fabric issues, will support a section of the fabric in vertical position outside the casing, where it is efliciently displayed and the pattern or other characteristics of the fabric may be examined with facility. Should it be desired to measure off a particular length of fabric, a measure D may be placed in the hook l2 and the eye 13, when any desired length may be readily observed. This length may then be severed by inserting a knife or shears between the rods 10 and 11 and severing the fabric along the edge of the rod 10, or it may be severed in the preferred manner before referred to. If at any time it should be desirable to roll up some of the fabric, this may be done by applying a suitable means to the upper end of a spindle and turning it in the proper direction to wind up the roll. Each of the spindles may be removed separately from the rest by unlatching and raising its support 7, when the spindle may be raised out of its socket 5 and removed from the casing. This is of great advantage, as it is obvious that certain rolls of material will be exhausted sooner than others, and it is obvious that where only one spindle requires replenishing it is desirable that only that spindle should be disturbed in accomplishing the desired result. Other advantages of having spindles separately removable will be apparent. Reference to the drawings and description will show that the upper ends of the spindles and their supports are readily accessible by means of the covers 3 and that the rolls or spindles may be readily inserted or removed through the opening caused by the door 17, and it will further appear that when these covers and the door are closed that the contents are protected against damage.

While the invention has been illustrated in what is considered its best embodiment, it

may be embodied in other structures and should not, therefore, be limited to the structure shown.

What I claim is 1. In a display-stand for fabric rolls, a supporting-casing having fixed bearings in its lower portion and movable bearings in its upper portion, a series of roll-containing spindles vertically mounted in said bearings and a series of vertically-mounted rotatory frames attached to said casing and cooperating with said spindles to hold the ends of the fabric rolls in exposed relation.

2. In a display-stand for fabric rolls, a supporting-casing having fixed bearings in its lower portion and movable bearings in its upper portion, a series of roll-containing spindles vertically mounted in said bearings, and a series of vertically-mounted rotatory frames attached to said casing and cooperating with said spindles to hold the ends of the fabric rolls in exposed relation, each of said frames comprising two parallel rods through which the fabric is drawn. I

3. In a display-stand for fabric rolls, a supporting-casing, a series of roll-containing spindles vertically mounted therein, a series of vertically-mounted rotatory frames attached to said casing and cooperating with said spindles to hold the ends of the fabric rolls in exposed relation, each of said frames comprising two parallel rods through which the fabric is drawn, and a member for pivotally supporting said rods at a distance from the casing, and means common to all the frames on each side of the casing for securing said frames in position.

4. In a display-stand for fabric rolls, a supporting-casing, a series of roll-containing spindles vertically mounted therein, a series of vertically-mounted rotatory frames attached to said casing and cooperating with said spindles to hold the ends of the fabric rolls in exposed relation, each of said frames comprising two parallel rods through which the fabric is drawn, and a bar journaled in the casing and connected to said parallel rods, and means common to all the frames on each side of the casing for securing said frames in position.

5. In a display-stand for fabric rolls, a supporting-casing, a series of roll-containing spindles vertically mounted therein, a series of vertically-mounted rotatory frames removably attached to said casing and cooperating with said spindles to hold the ends of the fabric rolls in exposed relation, and means common to all the frames on each side of the casing for securing said frames in position.

6. In a display-stand for fabric rolls, a supportingcasing, a series of roll-containing spindles vertically mounted therein, a series of vertically-mounted rotatory frames attached to said casing and cooperating with said spindles to hold the ends of the fabric rolls in exposed relation, means common to all the frames on each side of the casing for securing said frames in position and means on each frame for supporting a measuring device parallel with the fabric.

7. In a display-stand for fabric rolls, a supporting-casing, a series of vertical rollcontaining spindles in said casing, means for removably journaling said spindles therein, a series of vertically-mounted rotatory frames attached to said casing and cooperating with said spindles to hold the ends of the fabric rolls in exposed relation, and means common to all the frames on each side of the casing for securing said frames in position.

8. In a display-stand for fabric rolls, a supporting-casing, a series of roll-containing spindles in said casing, a fixed journal-bean ing and a pivoted journal-bearing for each of said spindles, located at the bottom and top of said casing respectively, whereby the spindles may be separately removed, a series of vertically-mounted rotatory frames attached to said casing and cooperating with said spindles to hold the ends of the fabric rolls in exposed relation, and means common to all the frames on each side of the casing for securing said frame in position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES ELLIOTT HART. Witnesses:

W. E. LOTT, LUKE T. MAY. 

